Talbot Alpine
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founder | Henri Pigozzi |
| Fate | Taken over by PSA Peugeot Citroën |
| Successor | Talbot (brand) |
| Headquarters | Poissy , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Simca 1307 is a large family car manufactured by Chrysler Europe and subsequently by PSA Peugeot Citroën between 1975 and 1986. Conceived under the project name 'C6', its design was crafted in the United Kingdom by Roy Axe, while engineering responsibilities were handled by Simca at their Poissy facility in France.
As one of the pioneering front-wheel drive hatchbacks in its category, it competed with models such as the Renault 20, Renault 30, and Volkswagen Passat. The vehicle earned the distinguished title of 1976 European Car of the Year. Development work commenced in 1972.
The car was marketed under a variety of names depending on regional markets and engine configurations. These included Simca 1308 and 1309 for models with larger displacement engines; it was branded as the Chrysler Alpine in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand; as the Dodge Alpine in Colombia; and as the Chrysler 150 in Spain. Following PSA’s takeover, updated versions were released under the Talbot Alpine, Talbot 1510 / Talbot 150, and the sedan derivative known as the Talbot Solara badges.
History
At launch, powertrains comprised 1294 cc and 1442 cc variants of the "Poissy engine", equipped with electronic ignition systems and mated to a four-speed manual transmission. The initial trim levels offered were GL, S, and GT. For its era, the specification was notably advanced; later GLS editions incorporated features such as central locking and electric windows—amenities generally reserved for higher-end models. Following its Car of the Year accolade, the model achieved strong sales both domestically and internationally. Production volumes escalated rapidly from an initial daily output of 400 units in September 1975 to approximately 1,100 units by late 1976. The 1307 (rated at 7 CV) utilized the smaller engine, whereas the 1308 (8 CV) was fitted with the larger displacement unit. The sportier European-market 1307 S was equipped with twin Weber carburettors to boost performance while maintaining a lower tax rating; UK versions instead featured a single Solex carburettor.
Higher-spec models bore the designations 1308 (sometimes badged as 1508) and 1309 (occasionally marketed as 1609). These replaced the earlier Simca 1301/1501 lineup within France. In the British market, these cars were sold alongside the older rear-wheel drive Hillman Hunter, which remained available until 1979. At that time, rear-wheel drive sedans such as the Ford Cortina and Morris Marina dominated UK sales figures. The Chrysler Alpine was introduced to Britain in January 1976, shortly after the similarly sized Vauxhall Cavalier, which consistently outsold it.
Styled by Roy Axe, the Simca 1307 was part of a wave of full-size European family hatchbacks influenced by the pioneering Renault 16, which had set this segment’s template since its debut in 1965. Throughout the 1970s, mid-sized saloons like the Ford Taunus (Ford Cortina), Opel Ascona B (Vauxhall Cavalier), and Morris Marina retained popularity. It wasn’t until later generations—such as with the Ford Sierra and Opel Ascona C—that hatchbacks became widely accepted.
Toward the conclusion of its production run, an Italian importer introduced a sportier luxury variant of the larger-engined 1308 GT named "1308 GLS Superstrada." This edition featured alloy wheels, black lower-side stripes, and blacked-out chrome trim except for retaining the pentastar emblem.
Facelift and Solara
In 1980, the vehicle, now under the Talbot brand, received a major redesign and was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show as the Talbot 1510 (marketed as the Talbot Alpine in the UK). The refresh included redesigned front and rear lighting units, while the top-tier SX trim boasted features such as alloy wheels, cruise control, headlamp washers/wipers, power steering, and a trip computer. Both an automatic transmission and a five-speed manual gearbox were introduced. The model range was reorganized: the 1307 GLS was renamed 1510 LS, 1307 S became GL, 1308 GT was updated to GLS, and 1309 SX transitioned to 1510 SX (initially available only with automatic transmission).
That same year saw the release of a four-door sedan variant called the Talbot Solara, equipped with either 1.3- or 1.6-liter engines and sharing trim levels with the Alpine. This model replaced the discontinued Hunter as Talbot’s large family saloon offering. In late 1983, Benelux markets received a well-equipped "Ultra" edition featuring metallic paint, alloy wheels, and velour upholstery.
Production of the 1510, Alpine, Solara, and smaller Horizon models in France ended in 1986. In the UK market, final versions were rebadged as Rapier and Minx based on trim distinctions rather than body style. Manufacturing at Ryton ceased in autumn 1985 to accommodate production of the Peugeot 309. The Alpine/Solara/Horizon lineup did not have a direct successor; instead, PSA’s Citroën BX (introduced in 1982) and Peugeot 405 (launched in 1987) effectively took over their position in the D-segment. Both models achieved strong sales across Europe and helped PSA expand its market presence in the UK and other export territories.
In early 1985, Finnish assembler Saab-Valmet introduced the Talbot 1510 GLD powered by PSA’s 1.9-liter XUD9 diesel engine delivering 65 PS. This was the only diesel variant offered for the Simca 1307; although PSA’s Spanish division had developed a diesel version, it was never finalized due to internal competition from Peugeot models like the 305 and BX diesels. Saab-Valmet chose not to offer a diesel Solara to avoid direct competition with the Peugeot 305 Diesel saloon.
While the Simca 1307 enjoyed solid sales in France, its Chrysler Alpine counterpart struggled in the UK market against competitors such as the Ford Cortina/Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier. This was largely due to smaller engine options (capped at 1.6 liters compared to rivals’ typical 2.0 liters) along with less sophisticated OHV Simca powerplants. Corrosion problems further reduced survival rates; by 2017 only nineteen Alpines remained licensed in Britain. Conversely, it maintains a dedicated enthusiast base in France where many examples are still operational.
The design of the Simca 1307’s body served as direct inspiration for the Russian Moskvitch Aleko model produced from 1986 to 2001.
Manufacture
The vehicle was initially produced at Poissy in France and at Ryton in the United Kingdom. Starting from 1977, production also took place in Villaverde, Spain by Barreiros—a Chrysler Europe subsidiary—and between 1977 and 1984 it was assembled from CKD kits by Todd Motors (later Mitsubishi Motors NZ) in New Zealand. Additionally, from 1978 until 1982 it was assembled as the Dodge Alpine at Chrysler Colmotores (GM Colmotores) facilities located in Bogotá, Colombia. Between 1979 and 1985, Saab-Valmet manufactured the car at its factory in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Saab-Valmet’s initial aim was to produce mainly the smaller Horizon model; however, Simca-Talbot required that Valmet also assemble the larger 1307 model as part of their licensing agreement. Finnish versions incorporated local modifications such as a diesel engine option and numerous Saab interior components—most notably seats constructed on Saab’s internal frame allowing for a heated driver’s seat. Finnish-built Talbots were restricted solely to domestic sales.
In New Zealand, this car appeared under various badges including Chrysler, Talbot, Alpine, and later as "1510," though it was officially marketed as Alpine following UK naming conventions. The model underwent a facelift there in 1982 and was subsequently renamed "Talbot SX."